USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
The foregoing list, however, did not comprise the total population of the county. Settlements had been made in nearly all the townships. In June, 1860, Judge Church delivered an historical address before the early settlers. At that time Judge
39
SETTLERS IN THE TOWNSHIPS.
Church gave the following list of settlers in what are now the different townships, in September of 1835: New Milford : Sam- uel Brown, William R. Wheeler, Richard Hogaboom, Phineas M. Johnson, John Adams, John B. Long, Mr. Paddleford, James Campbell; Guilford : Henry Enoch, William E. Enoch, J. A. Pike, Abraham I. Enoch, John Kelsoe, Mr. Rexford, Colonel James Sayre, Abel C. Gleason, John Brink, William G. Blair; Butler, now Cherry Valley : Joseph P. Griggs ; Harlem : William Mead, Chauncey Mead, Zemri Butler; Roscoe: Robert J. Cross, Robert Logan, Elijah H. Brown, William Brayton ; Rockton : Thomas B. Talcott, William Talcott, Henry Talcott, John F. Thayre, Isaac Adams, Pearly P. Burnham, Darius Adams, David A. Blake, Ellison Blake, John Kilgore, John Lovesse; Owen : James B. Lee, Richard M. Walker; Burritt: Isaac Hance, John McIntosh, A. M. Sherman, John Manchester and family, Elias Trask, Alva Trask; Lysander, now Pecatonica: Ephraim Sumner, William Sumner, Mrs. Dolly Guilford, Elijah Guilford, Thomas Hance; Elida, now Winnebago: David A. Holt; How- ard, now Durand : Harvey Lowe, Nelson Salisbury, who made claims in 1835, but did not occupy them until the spring of 1836.
These, with their families, property, houses, and other improvements, made that first short period determine all the future. They possessed and enjoyed the land. Others were following close behind. The future seemed promising, and they had only to prepare for it. Considerable ground was broken for cultivation ; but the newly broken soil was of little use until its turf had rotted and mellowed. There was thus probably little raised that year in crops, except possibly sod corn, pota- toes, vines and garden vegetables. Winter wheat, however, was sown for the following spring.
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CHAPTER IX.
THE PIONEERS OF 1836.
T "HE tide of emigration, which may be said to have begun in
1835, continued for several years. When the Rockford Society of Early Settlers was organized, January 10, 1870, its constitution provided that male residents of the county who settled therein previous to 1840 were eligible to membership. In this and the preceding chapter is given a partial list of those who came previous to and including 1836. In succeeding chapters will be published an incomplete roster of settlers of 1837-39, inclusive. According to the Old Settlers' standard of eligibility to membership, these names belong to the historic roll of honor.
One of the first emigrants of this year came from the old world. Thomas Lake was a native of Blackford, in the Parish of Selworthy, County of Somerset, England. He sailed from Bristol in 1832, and arrived in New York after a voyage of seven weeks and three days, just as the cholera was beginning its westward march with such alarming fatality. Mr. Lake's reminiscences of the time between his arrival in New York and his settlement in Rockford four years later, is a vivid picture of the hardships of pioneer life. Soon after his arrival in Chicago in October, 1835, he met an old acquaintance, Sidney Two- good, from Cleveland. Mr. Lake also saw Dr. J. C. Goodhue, whom he had called to see Mrs. Lake, who was ill. The Doctor advised Mr. Lake to settle in Rockford. He and his friend Twogood accepted this advice and arrived in Rockford, and for a time they followed the carpenter's trade. Mr. Lake also took up a claim, which was subsequently known as the Willis Smith farm, and now owned by P. Byron Thomas. Mr. Lake died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jane Lake, in Guilford, in the autumn of 1886.
Herman B. Potter was a native of Connecticut. He reached Rockford in October. Mr. Potter purchased a farm about two miles south of State street on the Kishwaukee road. Later he
1
41
SELDEN M. CHURCH.
came to the city and built a house where the First Congrega- tional church now stands. This home was purchased by Mrs. Chamberlain. Mr. Potter was a prominent citizen in the early history of the county, and was at one time a member of the county commissioners' court. In 1850 Mr. Potter visited Cal- ifornia. In 1853 he removed his family to Iowa, where he resided until his removal to Galesburg, Illinois. Mr. Potter died at Galesburg, March 16, 1880, at the age of seventy-five years.
Selden M. Church was a son of New England. He was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, March 4, 1804. His father subsequently removed to Livingston county, in western New York. The son came to Chicago in 1835 with a team; thence he went to Geneva, in Kane county, where he remained until he settled in Rockford in the autumn of thefollowing year. During his early residence in the township, when the Winnebago Indians made occasional visits to their former hunting-ground, Judge Church frequently visited their camp, and obtained such knowledge of their language as enabled him to intelligently carry on conversation with them. From an early date until the time of his death, Judge Church was a notable figure in the official and business life of the community. He filled the offices of postmaster, county clerk and county judge. The last posi- tion he held eight years. In 1847 he was a delegate from this county to the constitutional convention. Judge Church was a member of the general assembly in 1862; a member of the state board of charities in 1868; and was one of the commissioners chosen by the government to locate a bridge at Rock Island. Judge Church died June 21, 1892. He builded wisely for the educational and moral welfare of Rockford. Mrs. Church and daughters, Mrs. Katharine Keeler and Miss Mary Preston, reside on the family estate on South Avon street. The title to this property has not changed in more than half a century.
Abiram and Mary Morgan left their home in Massachusetts in September on a visit to this western country. They were charmed with the Rock river valley, and determined to settle here. They purchased a quarter section of Nathaniel Loomis, and erected a small log house on almost the exact site of the spacious old Horsman mansion. Mr. Morgan also purchased section twenty-two, which was originally an Indian "float." Mr. Morgan possessed a competence, which became the basis of a large estate for his family. His religious sympathies were with
42
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
the Baptist church. As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Morgan had established their home, they desired that it should be shared by their only daughter and her husband. This daughter, pre- vious to the departure of her parents from Massachusetts, was a young school girl attending Charleston seminary, where she formed an acquaintance which led to her romantic marriage. Charles I. Horsman was then a young man in business in Bos- ton. It was an instance of mutual love at first sight, and they were married February 10, 1834, when the bride was nineteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Horsman took their departure from the east soon after the arrival of her parents in Rockford. They came by way of Pittsburg, thence by the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, thence overland to Rockford. Mrs. Horsman has given a vivid picture of their reception at the parental home. As the shades of night were falling, on the second day of December, they reached Rockford, on the east side of the river. They were cold, hungry, weary and disheart- ened. The river was full of floating ice, so that the ferry was not available; but a man agreed to row them across in a small boat, and they eagerly assented. Then they walked up from the river arm in arm, through the stately oaks, until they came to the home where the young wife's parents were waiting to receive them. In referring to that incident in later years, Mrs. Horsman said that as the door was thrown open to welcome the daughter and her husband, when the flood of light threw out its rays into the night, and the aroma of hot coffee greeted their keen senses, it seemed as if the gates of Paradise had been opened to them. On this very site Mrs. Horsman resided until her death in 1889. Mr. Horsman died March 2, 1875.
Sampson George, an English gentleman, came to this county in September. In his youth Mr. George had been educated in the profession of the law, in the office of his father; but he had a decided preference for agricultural pursuits. Mr. George pur- chased a claim of eight hundred and eighty acres of land, held by Joshua Fawcett. Five weeks after his arrival Mr. George was taken ill and died October 31st, leaving a widow and five children. He was buried on his farm southeast of the village. Later the remains were removed to the West side cemetery.
Charles Henry Richings, M. D., was the second resident physician. He followed very closely Dr. Moulthrop. Dr. Rich- ings was born in England, February 26, 1815. He received his medical education in Belgium, and settled in Rockford July
43
HIRAM R. ENOCH.
18. The practice of his profession and hisinvestments returned him a comfortable fortune. Dr. Richings was a communicant of the Episcopal church. His death occurred August 13, 1884. His widow resides on the homestead on West State street. His son, Dr. C. H. Richings, is a well known practitioner.
Bethuel Houghton came from New Hampshire, in October. He engaged in the bakery business, and at one time he was associated in this way with Ephraim Wyman. Mr. Houghton left reminiscences in manuscript, which have been of service in the preparation of this volume.
Hiram R. Enoch was a native of Warren county, Ohio. From there he removed with his parents to Will county, Illinois, and thence he came to Guilford township. Probably no citizen of Rockford possessed a larger fund of local history than did Mr. Enoch, and he rendered valuable assistance in the preparation of historical articles. Mr. Enoch was county treasurer eight years. His best known work was as editor and proprietor of the Rockford Journal. After his removal from Rockford Mr. Enoch was in the employ of the government, in the pension bureau. His death occurred at Washington, D. C.
Isaac Newton Cunningham was the first of four brothers to settle in this county. He was the second sheriff of Winnebago county, and held this office four years. He died in Rockford December 24, 1865. His name will frequently appear in later chapters.
Jacob and Mary Posson came from Schoharie county, New York. In 1837 Mr. Posson purchased land four miles east of Rockford, upon which he lived five years. In 1842 he bought property on the northeast corner of Second and Market streets. While building a cooper shop on this site he received injuries from which he died November 1, 1842. His son, H. A. Posson, has resided in the county sixty-two years, and has probably lived in Rockford township longer than any other resident except Mrs. Thatcher Blake. Mr. Posson was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and his arm was amputated the following week. He was in the local mail service four years from 1890, under Postmaster Lawler.
David S. Shumway came in the spring, and settled on a farm in New Milford. He was a native of Vermont. The family was known as Green Mountain Yankees, and was of Huguenot descent. One son, R. G. Shumway, was born in Vermont; R. B. Shumway is a native of Ohio; three sons, Alvaro, Roland H.,
44
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
and Monroe, were born on the old farm in New Milford; also three daughters, who died young during the sickly seasons of early days. Roland H. Shumway has acquired a national reputation as a seedsman, and has amassed a large fortune.
Nathaniel Loomis and his son, H. W. Loomis, came from New Jersey. Other settlers in the county were : Charles Works, Alonzo Corey, Charles P. Brady, Spooner Ruggles, Henry P. Redington, Jonathan Wilson, A. G. Spaulding, Scott Robb, Numan Campbell, John Peffers, Heman Campbell, Homer Denton, John Robb, Edward Smith, Joseph Ritchie, Herman Hoit, Martin W. Borst, Philip Culver, Thomas Williams, Joseph Vance, Austin Andrews, Edmund Whittlesey, Joseph Miner, Albert Fancher, Eli Burbank, Mr. Barnaby, and Miss Danforth, a sister of Mrs. Israel Morrill, and who became the wife of D. A. Spaulding, the first government surveyor of northern Illinois.
John Greenlee and John Armour, from Campbelltown, Argyleshire, Scotland, settled in the spring of this year at Harlem, and formed the nucleus from which has grown the large and flourishing colony known as the Scotch Settlement.
CHAPTER X.
JOHN C. KEMBLE : THE FIRST LAWYER .- OTHER SETTLERS OF 1837.
THE emigration of 1837 was equal to that of the preceding year. John C. Kemble was the first lawyer who practiced in this county. Mr. Kemble and Dr. Goodrich had offices on South Madison street, directly below Potter & Preston's store. Mr. Kemble's log house was built near the northwest corner of First and Walnut streets. Mr. Kemble was a gentle- man of ability, and had been a member of the general assembly of New York from Rensselaer county. Mrs. Kemble was a member of one of the old Dutch families in New York. Accord- ing to the custom of the day, a colored servant was assigned the duty of ministering to her comfort. Her maiden name was Potts, and she met and married Mr. Kemble in Chicago. Her servant, Isaac Wilson, familiarly known as "Black Ike," came to Rockford with Mrs. Kemble in the latter part of 1837. It has been said that he was a slave at this time; but such was not the fact. When Isaac was a boy slavery was abolished in New York by an act of gradual emancipation, and he became free at a certain age. He had become so attached to the family in the east that he voluntarily followed Miss Potts to Chicago, thence to Rockford, where he resumed his duties as a servant. These statements are made on the authority of the late Harvey H. Silsby, who boarded with the Kemble family in the spring of 1839. About this time ex-Governor Marcy and wife of New York were guests at the Kemble home. Mr. Marcy had been governor three consecutive terms, and had attracted attention as a member of the United States senate by his reply to Henry Clay's assault on Van Buren, and by his answer to Daniel Web- ster's speech on the apportionment. The Governor came to Rockford with his own handsome team and carriage, and his drives about the country with the Kembles were notable inci-
46
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
dents in the social life of the village. Mr. Kemble became insane, and in 1840 he was taken to an eastern asylum, where he died a short time afterward. Mr. Kemble had two sons. Albert, the elder, was an artist. He went to Italy for study, where he married, and died. Edward became an editor, and founded the California Star, the first English newspaper in San Fran- cisco. For many years after the death of Mr. Kemble, "Black Ike" had a fruit and lunch counter on North Madison street, and is well remembered by old residents.
John Lake was born March 27, 1821, in Selworthy Parish, England. His father died when he was quite young, and he was early thrown upon his own resources. When sixteen years of age he determined to follow his uncle, Thomas Lake, to Amer- ica, and arrived in Rockford about December 1st. After three years on a farm, Mr. Lake spent a year as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, under Thomas Thatcher. At the expiration of that time he began the business of contractor and builder on his own account. In the winter of 1852-53 Mr. Lake formed a partnership with the late Phineas Howes, in the lumber trade. The firm's yard was on the site of the Chicago & Northwestern passenger depot on the East side. After the railroad bridge was completed across the river, the firm removed its yard to the West side, near the present Northwestern freight depot. The business was continued there until the summer of 1856, when it was sold to Mr. Freeman. In November of that year Mr. Lake revisited his native country. He returned in Febru- ary, 1857, and early in thefollowing spring he again embarked in the lumber business, on the southeast corner of State and Third streets, with his former partner, Mr. Howes. This part- nership was dissolved in the autumn of 1859, by the sale of the stock to Cook & Brother, lumber dealers on the West side. From 1860 to 1868 Mr. Lake was a partner with the late Henry Fisher, in the lumber business on the West side. In May, 1867, Mr. Lake again revisited England, and after an extended tour of the continent he returned in the autumn of the same year. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Lake and Seely Perry formed a part- nership in the lumber trade, on the corner of Third and State streets, which was continued until 1874. The residences of these gentlemen were built from nearly the same plans. In 1874, and again in 1877, 1889 and 1891, Mr. Lake revisited Europe. Mr. Lake was connected with the Rockford Insurance Company from its organization in 1866 until its sale in 1899.
47
JOHN LAKE .- JOHN THURSTON.
He was its first vice-president, and served in that capacity until January, 1866. when he was chosen president to succeed Dr. Robert P. Lane. Mr. Lake served the Second ward as alderman ten years ending with 1883. He has been a supervisor, and chairman of the board of education. For sixty-two years Mr. Lake has been known as a man of affairs, of strict integrity and exceptional executive ability ; he is a self-made man. Mr. Lake and Seely Perry own the three-story brick block on the north- east corner of State and Second streets. October 11, 1849, Mr. Lake married Miss Almeda M. Danley, of Harlem. Three of their seven children died in infancy. Those surviving are: Mrs. William H. Crocker, of Evanston; and Mrs. Charles M. Clark, Mrs. William M. Prentice, and Frank L., of Rockford. Mr. Lake is a prominent Odd Fellow, and has served as grand master of the grand lodge of Illinois, and representative to the sovereign grand lodge of the United States for six consecutive years. Mr. Lake is an attendant at the First Congregational church.
Henry Thurston and his son, John H., then a lad thirteen years of age, arrived in March. In company with William P. Dennis, of Massachusetts, they had come from Troy, New York, by sleigh and wagon to Chicago. There they met Daniel S. Haight aud Benjamin T. Lee, of Rockford, both of whom had known the elder Thurston in the east ; and they persuaded the party to settle in Rockford. While in Chicago they met John C. Kemble, who had made the journey by stage from Troy, and the company reached Rockford soon afterward. The son grew to manhood and continuously resided in Rockford until the death of his wife in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston resided more than forty years in the brick house on South Madison street, which has been used for several years as an annex for the high school. Mr. Thurston published his Reminiscences in 1891. They are a valuable contribution to local history. Mr. Thurston was uneducated in the learning of the schools; nevertheless he had a retentive memory, a ready wit, and a natural aptitude for writing that have made his little volume of Reminiscences quite popular with all classes of readers. He has graphically portrayed that circle of pioneer social life in which he moved. Mr. Thurston died September 19, 1896.
William P. Dennis was a well known citizen, who held several minor offices. He first lived in a log house on the site of Dr. Catlin's residence, on South First street. Mr. Dennis died in Rockford, February 4, 1880.
48
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Samuel D. Preston came from New York. He traveled over- land from Medina, with his wife and one child. He lived on North Madison street, and later his home was on the site of the office of the Rockford Lumber and Fuel Company. Mr. Preston was prominent in the early business and political life of the community. He was county treasurer four years. Mr. Preston died February 11, 1844. He was the father of Mrs. L. J. Clark. deceased ; Miss Anna T. Preston, deceased; and Miss Mary Preston, a resident of the city. Mr. Clark, his son-in-law, built the old stone house on the southwest corner of Madison and Oak streets.
Eleazer Hubble Potter was born in Fairfield county, Con- necticut, and emigrated with his parents to western New York when he was about seventeen years of age. Mr. Potter was fully committed to the New England idea that the church and the school-house form the real basis of the prosperity of a city. He therefore took an active interest in building up its religious and educational institutions. Mr. Potter made the acquaint- ance of Samuel D. Preston at Medina, and when these gentlemen came to Rockford they formed a partnership in business. Mr. Potter afterward became a prominent banker. He built the house now occupied by Rev. Mead Holmes, who has enlarged and otherwise improved it. He also built the fine residence of Hon. Gilbert Woodruff. Mr. Potter died at his home in this city, September 1, 1861, at the age of fifty-five years. He was the father of Mrs. William Lathrop, and Commodore Potter, who resides with his daughter, Mrs. Sabin, at Belvidere.
Nathaniel Wilder was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, June 30, 1794. From his native state he removed to Keene, New Hampshire, and from there he came to Rockford with his family, in March. He opened a blacksmith shop in a log build- ing on South Main street, between Green and Cedar streets, and owned considerable property in that vicinity. Mr. Wilder was probably the third blacksmith in Rockford. He continued in this business twenty-five years, and then engaged in the coal trade. At one time he was a member of the Second Congrega- tional church, but his later faith was Unitarianism. He died July 11, 1884, at the age of ninety years.
George W. Brinckerhoff came to Rockford during this year. He was in partnership with Germanicus Kent in various business enterprises. Although Mr. Brinckerhoff was quite prominent at one time, little is known of his later life.
49
G. A. SANFORD.
Goodyear Asa Sanford was born in Hamden, Connecticut, in August, 1814. He was engaged in farming in the east until he came to Alton, Illinois, in December, 1836. In the following year he came to Rockford and engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Sanford always took an active interest in politics, and was one of the early sheriffs of the county. He was also school com- missioner from 1845 to 1847. Mr. Sanford was a member of the banking firm of Dickerman, Wheeler & Co., which began business January 1, 1855. The firm name was changed the next year to Lane, Sanford & Co. The Second National Bank was organized April 29, 1864, with Mr. Sanford as cashier. He succeeded to the presidency, which he held at the time of his death, March 16, 1894. As a banker and man of affairs, Mr. Sanford was very prominent for more than half a century.
Rev. John Morrill and wife made their home in the little village in February. Mr. Morrill's important work in stimu- lating the religious life of the community will be considered in a subsequent chapter. Mrs. Morrill was eminently fitted for the work to which she was called.
David D. Alling was born at Westfield, Connecticut, April 27, 1813. At seventeen years of age he began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. He came to Rockford in October, upon the advice of G. A. Sanford. Mr. Alling built a number of dwell- ings in the little village, and was a contractor during his entire active life in Rockford. He constructed the old First Congrega- tional church, on the West side. He owned valuable property on South Main street. Mr. Alling died August 1, 1898. He was the father of Mrs. P. W. Danky and Frank Alling.
John Beattie was one of the first emigrants from Ireland to this county. He was born of Scotch ancestry in the north of Ireland, June 21, 1811. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native country, and continued this occupation after his settle- ment in Rockford. He was successful in business, and became the owner of a beautiful site in the finest residence portion of the city, which is now the home of his daughters, Misses Mary I. and Anna. Several business houses on West State street also belong to his estate. These valuable lots were tendered him in payment for work on the old court house, more than half a century ago. Mr. Beattie at first refused them ; and it is said he wept the day he became their possessor, because he felt that he had been defrauded. Mr. Beattie was highly esteemed for his sterling character. He was reared in the Presbyterian
D
50
HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
faith, although he was not a member of any church at the time of his death. Mr. Beattie died December 3, 1889. Mrs. Beattie died December 7, 1891. Two sons, Edward W. and George D., reside in Montana. Two sons and a daughter are deceased.
John Platt was born in West Haven, Connecticut, March 8, 1813. He came from Alton, Illinois, to Rockford in May, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1839 he removed to Pecatonica township and became an extensive land-owner. He returned to Rockford in 1845, where he resided until his death in 1881. Some years later Mrs. Platt married Robert H. Cotton. She passed her eighty-fifth year, December 11, 1899.
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